Sorting Halloween Candy: a must!

Oct 27, 2023

If you go trick or treating with your kids on Halloween, make them wait before tasting the candy that falls into their bags or, at the very least check the candy as they want to eat it. Once home, take the time to carefully examine your little ones’ candy before they eat it. Do the same exercise with your older children and discuss how drugs can be disguised as candies.

Examining the candy

Check candies one by one, under a light source and:

• Avoid treats without commercial packaging.
• Pay attention to your children's allergies.
• Watch for soft candies, peanuts, or very hard candies that could be a choking hazard.
• Discard treats that appear to be improperly wrapped, rewrapped, or if the plastic has been opened or punctured. Do the same with homemade brownies, cookies, or bags of popcorn.
• When in doubt, throw it out!

Drugs disguised as candy

If you find that any of the candies seem particularly suspicious or dangerous, contact your local police station. The risk exists and you don't want to take any chances. Unfortunately, people sometimes distribute medicines or capsules containing illicit substances during candy collection.

Cannabis, which is now legal in Canada, exists in several forms, with packaging that is not always very explicit about its contents. Read the packaging carefully, which may resemble one of a product you know. Hard candies, chocolate bars, gummies, cereal bars... be careful with these products, not only at Halloween, but all year round.

The Edmundston Police Force and the Action Committee for a Drug-Free Community thanks you for your collaboration, and wishes you a safe and Happy Halloween!

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CONTACT: Edmundston Police Force, 506.739.2100